Somalia army repulses Al-Shabaab raid in two military bases

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The Somali National Army [SNA] on Wednesday repulsed two would-be catastrophic attacks targeting military bases in the country, it has emerged, even as the country prepares to officially begin another round of crackdown against the Al-Shabaab militants in the Holy month of Ramadan.

According to security forces, the first attack took place in Kismayo, the capital of Jubaland state in the Western part of the country while the second was thwarted at Beledweyne in HirShabelle, central Somalia where the militants have been on the receiving end for the last seven months.

According to the report, the SNA soldiers with the backing of the Ma'awisley clan militia managed to repulse Al-Shabaab militants who had crossed River Shabelle within the Bardheere area south of Beledweyne with an intention of attacking a nearby military base.

And in the western part of Somalia, the reports further indicated, the troops backed by Jubaland State forces also thwarted a separate attack by al-Shabab fighters who fired mortar rounds in the Sanguni area in southern Somalia, where the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia [ATMIS] soldiers operate.

So far, the government is yet to issue a statement with regard to the two attempted raids but in their friendly media outlets, the Al-Shabaab militants claimed they killed 32 soldiers in the separate attacks.

Their claims could not be independently verified by Garowe Online. The government forces have intensified their attacks against al-Shabab since President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud declared an all-out war against the militants last year. Last week, the government said over 3,000 militants were killed during the first phase which ended a few weeks ago.

And early this week, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud launched the second phase of operations against Al-Shabaab which is believed to be the last complex crackdown before the Somali National Army takes full responsibility for security within the country upon the exit of ATMIS troops. 

GAROWE ONLINE